​Welcome to another one of Ancient Aliens’ increasingly regular forays into modern ufology in place of ancient history. Tonight’s topic, “The Mystery of Rudloe Manor,” looks at the title property, a onetime British country estate that sits atop an old quarry that was used as an RAF bunker and base during World War II. After the war, it continued on as an RAF communications hub, serving as the control center for Skynet, among other functions. It is connected to a large installation two miles away. In the 1990s, Rupert Matthews alleged that the secret operations that occurred at the manor were related to space aliens, thus launching a rumor perpetuated by fringe writers ever since, among them Ancient Aliens’ own Nick Redfern and Nick Pope.

As you might imagine, I don’t really care about this rumor whatsoever, so this episode was a pretty lengthy slog, more so than usual. It seems that this year the show is trying to burn time by going even more slowly and focusing on ever narrower topics. This episode is rather light on talking heads, and in its single topic and Tsoukalos-fronted on-location focus, it is much closer to a lost episode of In Search of Aliens, the short-lived Ancient Aliens spin-off, than a regular episode of the mother ship.

​Segment 1The first segment describes the British government’s release of its UFO files over the past ten years, and they focus on “eighteen key files” related to major UFO sightings that were missing. They were later found and sent to the National Archives, but the Ministry of Defence recalled them, apparently due to some secret material contained therein. The show assumes that this information is about space aliens, but more likely it deals with military secrets, possibly related to cooperation with American forces, since the files cover the so-called UFO incident in Rendlesham Forest, where the U.S. had troops stationed. The show alleges that the files were hidden in Rudloe Manor, though they have no evidence to suggest any such thing. They only insinuate it because Rudloe Manor housed the officials who were tasked with addressing questions about unidentified flying objects in the middle twentieth century. The site is officially no longer an active military installation, but it is still a secure facility guarded by police and security fences. Giorgio Tsoukalos and Nick Pope travel to the site, but their reality-show adventure antics must wait for the commercial.

​Segment 2In the second segment, Nick Pope, a former Ministry of Defence official, declined to visit the connected Corsham Computer Centre, another underground facility about two miles away, because of his former employment. Instead, Tsoukalos visits the underground facility, which is a data processing center for the Royal Navy, and probably connected to clandestine spying that we aren’t supposed to know about. Tsoukalos is sent away by local police, who refuse to let Ancient Aliens film the secure site. The narrator, however, spins a conspiracy, suggesting that the data center is actually a UFO investigation facility.

Pope and Tsoukalos meet Andrew Collins, the fringe writer best known for his Nephilim and Göbekli Tepe conspiracy theories (borrowed by Graham Hancock), and here Collins appears in a different guise, as a ufologist. Collins alleges that the nearby stone circles of Avebury and Stonehenge attract UFOs and that Rudloe Manor is monitoring the “window areas” where strange lights in the sky are attracted to ley lines like moths to a bug zapper. As most people reading this know, ley lines are imaginary, invented by Alfred Watkins and without scientific foundation. There is not space to go into the reasoning for this here, but I will briefly mention that at one point Tsoukalos claims that a ley line drawn from Britain to southern Italy crosses through dozens of ancient sites whose names all contain a root meaning “star.” I’ll be damned if I can find the root for “star” in some of those names. The claim passes without any effort to substantiate it.

​Segment 3The third segment reports a midcentury news article by game show panelist and newspaper journalist (i.e. gossip columnist) Dorothy Kilgallen, who once claimed that she heard from a source in the British government that the UK had a crashed flying saucer. It appeared in a May 22, 1955 news report she sent over the UP (now UPI) syndication wires from London and which was picked up by newspapers across America:

​British scientists and airmen, after examining the wreckage of one mysterious flying ship, are convinced these strange aerial objects are not optical illusions or Soviet inventions, but are flying saucers which originate on another planet. The source of my information is a British official of Cabinet rank who prefers to remain unidentified. “We believe, on the basis of our inquiry thus far, that the saucers were staffed by small men—probably under four feet tall. It’s frightening, but there is no denying the flying saucers come from another planet.”

​An alleged CIA memo (I have not had time to confirm its authenticity) reporting a wiretap of Kilgallen in 1962 states that Kilgallen seemed to truly believe what she heard, but her penchant for gossip and conspiracy theories (she was a JFK assassination conspiracy theorist, too) makes her claim doubtful, and it has never been confirmed. She might well have had her leg pulled and never realized it.

Tsoukalos and Pope interview a British UFO witness, and his story is just like any other, a discussion of lights and sounds with nothing to support the allegation that it had anything to do with space aliens. Naturally, they think it warrants a second segment.

​Segment 4The fourth segment continues the “investigation” into the UFO sighting, which allegedly included a crashed flying saucer. Officially, the event was a meteor strike at the time of a minor earthquake, but Pope says that ufologists “have become convinced” that the actual event was the crash of a flying saucer and its subsequent trucking back to Rudloe Manor. I imagine that most of you reading this could think of at least three other plausible explanations that would warrant government secrecy but that wouldn’t involve space aliens. The show presents the choice as a false dichotomy: aliens or meteor-earthquake.

​Segment 5The fifth segment rehearses the story of the so-called Rendlesham Forest UFO, which Ancient Aliens has covered many, many times in the past. There isn’t much to say that hasn’t been said before, so the show adds to the recycled material claims that in the nights that followed the 1980 incident, additional UFOs were seen, and they scanned the area with light beams, allegedly to find the “crashed” UFO—one that skeptics are almost certainly correct in asserting was little more than misunderstood aircraft lights amidst a whole lot of panic. The narrator, without any evidence, simply claims that the crashed UFO was hauled off to Rudloe Manor and documented in the eighteen files withdrawn from the National Archives. I can’t stress how out of nowhere these claims seem to emerge. There isn’t even a logical thread of speculation on offer, just random events pushed together through flights of fancy.

​Segment 6The final segment references John Podesta’s leaked emails, published by Wikileaks in the fall of 2016, but only as window dressing to bring up the release CIA UFO files in January of this year. The show uses this to call for the British government to release the eighteen “hidden” UFO files. It’s hard, though, to think that the British UFO files would contain anything other than what the American government files hold—a whole lot of nothing, and quite a few hints that UFO investigations were conducted as a PR campaign to cover up or distract from Air Force test flights, spying operations, and other mundane if clandestine government activities.

It's amazing to me that they've managed to keep going into a twelfth season. But it certainly sounds as if they themselves are getting bored of their own product. Why keep going at this point? What can they possibly say anymore that they haven't already said ad nauseum?

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ken henry

4/1/2018 06:56:41 am

Since it is virtually certain that this craft do not originate in any country on earth, considerable speculation has centered around what their point of origin might be and how they get here.Mars was and remains a possibility,although some scientists,most notably Dr.Menzel,consider it more likely that we are dealing with beings from another solar system entirely. Numerous examples of what appear to be a form of writing were found in the wreckage. Efforts to decipher these have remained largely unsuccessful.

Eisenhower briefing document,

November 18,1952

(about Roswell,5 years after)

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Only Me

5/12/2017 11:19:24 pm

Ah, so, Rudloe Manor is the UK's Area 51. That would make the Rendlesham Forest UFO equal to the Roswell crash. Now, if they could somehow rope the Green Man into the mix, they'd have their Bigfoot connection, too.

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Clete

5/13/2017 12:56:23 am

They do need another aspect to make this complete. The British version of "Men in Black". However, being British, they would have to take a tea break, wear bowler hats and say "That's a sticky wicket" a lot.

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Only Me

5/13/2017 11:24:38 am

Ooh, Austin Powers: Man in Black!

"That's not a man! It's a Grey, baby!"

Shane Sullivan

5/13/2017 12:26:09 pm

https://media.giphy.com/media/eGpSkaGStKeQg/giphy.gif

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TONY S.

5/13/2017 12:33:54 am

Hi, Only Me. I'm a longtime visitor, first time poster to Jason's website. Over the past few years I've gone through all the AA and AU posts and read through the comments. I just wanted to say that I've enjoyed yours thoroughly. I share the same views as you and Jason; I'm glad there are others who feel the same way about this ridiculous militant upsurge of the fringe we've experienced the past 20 odd years. Jason is doing important work, and I hope he continues to do so. I for one appreciate it immensely.

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Only Me

5/13/2017 11:28:36 am

Thank you, Tony S. I'm not always on point, but I try to inject common sense and humor when I can.

As Jason recently noted, we're on the downhill slope after the fringe glut from a few years ago. Rest assured, it's only a matter of time before the cycle restarts anew.

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Graham

5/13/2017 01:12:23 am

I do find it interesting that the series is turning to 'modern' UFOlogy to come up with more material for the series. Sounds like they may at last be running out of ideas.

I recently stumbled across a 1956 episode ('Sun-Gold') of a science fiction drama series ('Science Fiction Theater') which lays out the whole 'Ancient Astronaut' idea (In this case involving the Inca.) just nine years after the Arnold sighting.

It truly is a case of "...the more things change..."

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TONY S.

5/13/2017 10:02:52 am

I find that interesting as well. It's odd, however, that they really make no effort to connect the two subjects. What am I thinking? These producers can't even maintain continuity from one episode to the next.

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Graham

5/13/2017 06:54:32 pm

They have no need to, after 12 Seasons, they have their audience dialled in and they know that the target audience is not interested in consistency.

Getting back to the other item I posted about. I finally managed to track down the relevant episode of "Science Fiction Theater" and was bemused to discover that the producers of the show decided to use a hydrocephalic looking skull for their 'dead alien'.

I fixed it. By the time 10 PM rolls around, my eyes are tired and I tend to make more typos.

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Sapphrina

5/13/2017 08:55:55 am

I like the series bec for me it gets me thinking and I end up doing research that I haven't done in awhile on the subject that interests me so much...I think that it(the series) is there to get you thinking about the possibilities.

But you could say that about any speculation, no matter how irresponsible. For example, one might say that holocaust denial literature is designed to get you researching and to think about all the possible reasons the Nazis might have been super-awesome. That doesn't make it morally or ethically responsible to broadcast to a mass audience who will not be able to distinguish between speculation and proven fact.

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TONY S.

5/13/2017 10:29:14 am

But in many cases, Sapphrina, they are artificially creating mysteries where there aren't any in order to purposely push forward their own preconceived agenda. They deliberately reopen questions that have already been definitely answered by Egyptologists.Two of their core claims about Egypt is that a). There is no evidence of them using torches inside their temples, so they must have had electricity, and b) no mummies have ever been found inside pyramids, so there is no evidence of them being used as tombs. Both assertions are downright false. You only have to read up on Egypt to discover that for yourself. For instance, there is black soot in almost every Egyptian temple and pyramid known. In fact, as recently as 2010 a brand new mural was discovered on the ceiling of a temple at a Temple of Hathor (the exact same temple that the Dendera 'lightbulb' was found) while it was being cleaned. The reason? "The ceiling was covered in hundreds of years worth of black soot". If you delve into any of these subjects that they cover, you'll begin to see these things for yourself. The building p of knowledge is a lifelong process, and the more you accumulate the more you'll be able to see out and out frauds like the AA crowd for what they are. The old saying knowledge is power is perfectly true. One manifestation of that power is the ability to see through deliberate falsehoods. I myself just the other day finished reading the English translation of early French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette's The Monuments of Upper Egypt. In it he makes mention of black soot inside structures, as well as finding the remains of mummies in several pyramids. I'm very glad that you have a natural curiosity to learn more, it's an excellent quality to have. But always consider the source and never simply take anyone's word for anything. Happy reading!

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JODY GLENN

5/19/2017 02:01:44 am

YOU TWO DONT HAVE A CLUE!!!!!

TONY S.

7/5/2017 01:01:24 am

Time for your nap, Jodie. You go night night now. Adults are talking.

Varuca

5/14/2017 03:25:34 pm

I have to agree with you, it also makes me think outside the box. This is how I ended up here today bc I searched Rudloe Manor. I love the show and yes it does seem that they have come to a point that they no longer have anything to talk about.

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JODY GLENN

5/19/2017 01:59:08 am

STUPID !!!!!!

Kathleen

5/19/2017 09:12:09 am

Jody, use your "inside voice "

BigNick

5/13/2017 12:50:11 pm

"I imagine that most of you reading this could think of at least three other plausible explanations that would warrant government secrecy but that wouldn’t involve space aliens."

I got fallen nephilem and Mary Poppins. What's the third?

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Shane Sullivan

5/13/2017 02:05:00 pm

See my link above.

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An Over-Educated Grunt

5/13/2017 06:46:18 pm

Nazis.

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Mark

5/13/2017 08:00:00 pm

Psychokinetic killer whale.

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Jim

5/13/2017 10:24:40 pm

Elvis

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John Moore

5/14/2017 12:31:15 am

Templars.

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An Over-Educated Grunt

5/14/2017 11:44:51 am

There's a story idea there. Elvis Was A Nazi Templar.

BigNick

5/14/2017 02:42:48 pm

The templars wrote runes on the Kensington rune stone and the as used runes for their insignia. It all makes sense. And we know that Elvis was once in Minnesota. That's worth a book and an H special.

Americanegro

5/14/2017 04:29:04 pm

Elvis was a Melungeon and it's well known that the Melungeons interbred with the Sex Apes.

BigNick

5/14/2017 05:15:00 pm

So probably not a Nazi. That wouldn't make sense, unless..... I accuse you of hiding the truth and repeat my claim LOUDER!

Clete

5/14/2017 12:36:52 am

Donald Trump's tax returns.

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Kathleen

5/14/2017 12:59:56 am

Mammoths

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Wim Van der Straeten

5/14/2017 07:38:18 am

"The show assumes that this information is about space aliens, but more likely it deals with military secrets, possibly related to cooperation with American forces, since the files cover the so-called UFO incident in Rendlesham Forest, where the U.S. had troops stationed"; "space aliens": aren't aliens by definition beings from outer space?

David Bradbury

5/14/2017 07:46:16 am

From the US Department of Homeland security:
"Alien - Any person not a citizen or national of the United States."

David - for a long time every time I have watched the news and someone has said illegal alien something out of Roswell comes to mind. It's amazing.

Uncle Ron

5/14/2017 10:36:05 am

"Any person not a citizen or national of the United States" - or whatever country you are in at the time; in this case Germany.

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Jim

5/14/2017 07:17:10 pm

So,,,,, aliens did build the pyramids ?

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Kathleen

5/14/2017 08:35:31 pm

No, Leviathans from the fluid plane transformed into mammoth Nephilim to build grain silos to feed the livestock in the ark and the Atlanteans installed Pillars of Wisdom to support their new $10k game show

BigNick

5/14/2017 09:10:32 pm

Liaviathan mammoths that were not citizens of Egypt.

I'm not saying its aliens, but its aliens

Americanegro

5/14/2017 10:26:05 pm

Only if by "Germany" you mean "England". Doch?

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Wim Van der Straeten

5/15/2017 04:02:15 am

I think that in this context it's pretty clear that we're talking about extraterrestrials and not foreigners.

Americanegro

5/15/2017 04:07:00 am

Wasn't addressing you. Refer to Uncle Ron's comment above.

Uncle Ron

5/15/2017 07:54:33 pm

Oops. Yes. Well, it's an interdimensional thing, actually, so . . .

Did you know that if you bored a hole straight through the earth from Rudlow Manor to Berlin a tram could roll there by gravity in 49 minutes?

GEET

5/15/2017 09:12:26 am

I enjoy watching the show and then reading Jason's Blog.

The show is far reaching. Some of this information is such malarkey, I don't understand the continued seasons.

I wait for the episode that they substantiate one idea from real proof....

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Bryan

5/15/2017 12:24:37 pm

I work in a certain museum that deals with the history of the RAF (i won't name but it would be very easy to guess). I had been away for the weekend so hadn't caught up with Jason's blog, so i was very surprised to get to work this morning and find half a dozen emails asking about records for Rudloe Manor. Then i read this and it explains the sudden interest.
So yes, we have just as much nonsense per capita this side of the Atlantic, you Americans don't hold the monopoly unfortunately.

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Murgatroyd

5/15/2017 05:38:58 pm

Rudloe Firs, not far from Rudloe Manor, was the home of William Jones Brewer, father of Humphries Brewer, alleged eyewitness of a forgery at the Great Pyramid. Can this be a coincidence? Surely not ...

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Martin Stower

5/15/2017 06:27:02 pm

During WW2, parts of the extensive network of underground quarries in this area were pressed into service. Some parts remain so, while some have passed back into civilian use (or disuse).

All of which is perfect for the conspiracy crowd, who can pass off legitimate MOD security as hiding anything they like to posit.

Of the Brewers we may note William Jones Brewer, contractor for (part of) Brunel’s Box Tunnel, and his son, Humphries Brewer, alleged witness of forgery in the Great Pyramid.

Can this be coincidence?

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TheGrim

5/17/2017 03:39:22 am

Tsoukalous is a moron.

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McKay

6/4/2017 12:04:22 am

Propaganda supporting the international transhuman H+ agenda you know Associated Press claims scientist blame Donald Trump for global warming so get ready for NASA's depopulation of our world and the repopulation of it with clones.

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Rush

7/14/2017 08:01:51 pm

Narrow-minded Colavito invited on The American Heroes Channel. LMAO! That channel is best compared to MSNBC or CNN. Heroes? Let's see. One of their programs is "I (Almost) Got Away With It," due to the fact they cannot find and fund NEW material. Many heroes in this program. I have probably viewed "Great Tank Battles" a billion times. It use to be a military channel, now gone bust. How many times will the "repeats" continue on this joke of a cable channel. Scaping for funds and most likely going bust. You are sooooooo narrow minded. AA is an entertaining show and is based on many, many facts. Yes, they do go overboard with their dramatizations and suggestions. However, you cannot doubt the facts. If you think you evolved from a monkey then you are truly brainwashed. I wish I could be here when my creator shows up on your front door. You have no room for real science. You are entertaining, Jason but out of this world with your minuscule brain cells...

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Normandie Kent

12/15/2017 08:24:54 pm

What makes you think that your creator is everyones. Your creator was invented in the middle east, and is not indigenous to the Americas., Europe, or Asia. Just because your ancestors adopted a foreign non indigenous god for themselves, doesn't mean that everyones else's did, and I doubt your god is ever going come to my front door step, because my own All-American god or Gods will kick your God in the Nads!!!

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Anthony

1/24/2018 09:52:59 pm

I was so impressed with Jason's apparent clarity of thought and stylish prose. Then he let out that he has all the deductive skills of a petunia.
He doesn't know that the Kennedy assassinations were a conspiracy. Ho hum. Such a pity. So although there are some things he is confident don't exist, he probably still believes in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

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I'm an author and editor who has published on a range of topics, including archaeology, science, and horror fiction. There's more about me in the About Jason tab.